The Commonwealth inter-school Debate Championship, which had been going on since February, came to an end on Sunday, March 13, with the Bugesera-based Gashora Girls School becoming winners.

Six schools - Gisenyi College Inyemeramihigo, Gashora Girls School, Green Hills Academy, Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare, Groupe Scolaire Notre Dame du Bonconseil, and Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture, RICA, made it to the national semi-finals out of 34 schools that initially pa anticipated the competition from all parts of the country.

The debate was organized with support of the British High Commission to Rwanda.

The final debate was titled "The Youth Should Have a Key Role in Delivering a Common Future: Innovation and Transformation," in accordance with this year’s Commonwealth Day theme of "Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming."

The final pitted Gashora Girls against hosts Green Hills Academy.

"The goal of these discussions is to broaden young people's awareness of what the Commonwealth is, what it stands for, and what its values are,” said Omar Daair, the British High Commissioner to Rwanda.

He added: "But also to encourage young people in the Commonwealth, to strengthen their confidence and critical thinking.”

According to him, the Commonwealth intends to bank on its people, particularly the youth, who make up the majority of its member countries. Young people were classified as those between the ages of 15 and 29.

Omar Daair, the British High Commissioner to Rwanda, speaks at the debate finals on Sunday.

Daair added, "I really enjoyed seeing young people debate about very crucial topics.” "I think it's a good reminder of what the Commonwealth can do to bring us together.” 

"This was not just for the sake of debate,” said an excited Neilla Yvonne Uwera, one the winners of the debate with Gashora Girls school team.

"We (the youth) feel honored to be considered and heard. This was to prove everyone that we have opinions and we are ready to take part into delivering a common future driven by ourselves,” she said.

"Whether you won or lost, we all learnt!” said Abigail Nzozi Rutayisire. "The research and the work we put in during the debates helped us understand Commonwealth even more.”

The debate championship concluded a day before the Commonwealth Day, that is marked on March 14 this year and few months before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) takes place in Kigali.

"We want the young people to take part in all these and suggest ways to shape a better Commonwealth for all member countries,” Daair added.

Rwanda is a member of the 54 nation Commonwealth, which brings together 2.5 billion people.